The Case of the Glowing Trees

Imagine walking down the streets of downtown Chicago. The skyscraper, taxis, and buildings light up the town. However, all the lamp posts have been replaced by glowing trees. While it might seem strange and uncommon, researchers are actually developing trees and plants that can glow. Andrew Pollack discusses the project in his article, “A Dream of Trees Aglow at Night” in the New York Times.  

Genetic engineering, in simplest terms, involves removing a gene from one organism and inserting it into another. Genetic engineering is commonly used for genetically modified organisms. However, the researchers conducting this project will be using synthetic biology. Synthetic biology manufactures DNA that is going to be inserted into the organism. This process allows researchers to create genes found outside of nature. Anthony Evans and Dr. Omri Amirav-Drory lead the project. Dr. Amirav-Drory runs Genome Complier, which is a program that can create DNA sequences and transmit them to a foundry that manufactures the DNA. Then, Dr. Kyle Taylor inserts the DNA into the genome of a plant or tree. The researchers are initially using Arabidopsis thaliana as their test subject, but aim to create a glowing rose. 

Ababidopis thaliana, the first test subject [Credit: nytimes.com]

While there has been widespread outrage over the glowing plants, there has been a previous effort to create glow-in-the-dark plants. In the 1980s, Stony Brook University created a glowing tobacco plant. They found that the plant needed luciferase, an enzyme, to glow, but it would not work without a chemical called luciferin. Since the plant could not manufacture its own luciferin, it needed a constant intake of luciferin. Therefore, Stony Brook made a plant that produced luciferase and luciferin by cutting six genes from a marine bacterium. However, the drawback was the dimness of the light.

Furthermore, scientists have not only been attempting to create glowing plants, but also animals. “Monkeys, cats, pig, dogs, and worms” have all been made into glowing creatures (Pollack). The creation of glowing animals and plants has created tension within the scientific community and the public. Friends of the Earth and the ETC Group are two environmental groups that have raised concerns about the possibility of glowing plants and trees. They have tried shutting down the project by writing to Kickstarter and the Agriculture Department, insisting that the seeds of the glowing plants will spread and wreak havoc. Anthony Evans, one of the leaders of the project, has insisted that the project is safe.

In her book, Frankenstein’s Cat, Emily Anthes discusses the popular GloFish. Like the glowing plant project, GloFish also generated much controversy. Alan Blake, the founder of GloFish, was required to go to a hearing with the California Fish and Game Commission, which had banned the production and sale of genetically modified fish. While Blake was able to show that the GloFish were safe, the committee was still equally worried about the ethical concerns. Like the glowing plants, many were wondering if we, as humans, should have the power to play God and create new organisms. Religious and moral objections are often raised in the case of genetically modified organisms. Although the debate is still going on, Emily Anthes makes clear that she does not believe that the GloFish (by having them in her own home) are an abomination that humans should not be creating. The question, however, remains is how far we will go with genetic modification in organisms.

References:

Anthes, Emily. Frankenstein's Cat: Cuddling up to Biotech's Brave New Beasts. Print.

Pollack, Andrew. "A Dream of Trees Aglow at Night." New York Times 7 May 2013. Nytimes.com, 7 May 2013. Web. 9 Oct. 2013.